The number of reported traffic accidents has increased from 5039 in 2020 to 5151. The increase is mainly due to accidents involving property damage. Last year, fewer people suffered minor (-51 than the previous year) or serious injuries (-13 than the previous year). The 168 seriously injured people represent the lowest number in ten years.
Decline in the number of pedestrian accidents
At 164 accidents (including vehicle-like equipment), the number of accidents involving pedestrians continued to decline (-9 compared to the previous year, -58 compared to the five-year average). However, five pedestrians died, which is an unfortunate high. Four fatal accidents were collisions between a person on foot and a tram.
Fewer bicycle accidents
In 2021, the number of accidents in bicycle traffic fell for the first time in ten years and, at 490 accidents, reached the lowest value since 2017 (-116 compared to the previous year, -36 to the five-year average). This decline is almost exclusively due to accidents involving conventional bicycles (-113 compared to the previous year). The number of minor and severe injuries also decreased here. The number of accidents involving e-bikes, on the other hand, fell only slightly (-3 compared to the previous year). In addition, the number of people with minor injuries rose to 100 (+2 compared to the previous year) and the number of people with life-threatening injuries to 4 (+3 compared to the previous year). The majority of people injured in traffic were still cyclists.
The lower number of accidents in bicycle traffic is also related to the bad weather in 2021, which led to less bicycle use. Whether the decline in accidents heralded a trend last year will only be seen in a few years. As part of the “Safe Cycling” strategy priority, further measures to improve road safety for cycling were implemented in 2021. In addition, the planning of preferred cycling routes is progressing in line with the popular initiative “Safe cycling routes for Zurich”. Furthermore, all road users should be motivated by prevention and awareness-raising measures to be more considerate and cautious on the road.
Further insights into age, e-scooters and causes
The number of children involved in accidents has fallen (-16 compared to the previous year) despite the growing population and additional trips to school. Older people also had fewer accidents last year (-23 compared to the previous year), three people died in this age group. Accidents involving e-scooters have increased further (+17 compared to the previous year). Here the number of accidents involving falls increased (+16 compared to the previous year). Overall, accidents caused by inappropriate speed increased by almost 30 percent (+21 compared to the previous year).
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